Podisus maculiventris, Spined Soldier Bug

A Predatory Bug For Caterpillar Control

Podisus maculiventris belongs to the family Pentatomidae, a group of true bugs which are characterized by a pentagonal shield on their backs. Eggs are laid in clusters. Eggs are about 0.5 mm across and resemble tiny metallic barrels. The larval stages are all wingless and change from dark reddish black when first hatched to ornate patterns of red or yellow with black markings as they grow.

Podisus are aggressive, voracious bugs which kill caterpillars and beetle grubs. They attack prey during, all larval stages and as adults. They can kill prey that is much larger than themselves! This is because they feed by piercing the looper with their mouth parts. injecting digestive enzymes to turn the looper mushy, then sucking up the partially digested insides, rather like slurping a milkshake through a straw. It is truly amazing to see a Podisus bug walking around with a large looper impaled on its beak.

At 22ºC. it takes about 6 weeks for development from egg to egg-laying adult. The total lifespan at this temperature is 2-3 months, so they work in the crop for an extended period of time. Research shows that at 24ºC Podisus reproduce at a rate of 15-20 eggs per female per day and each adult bug can eat 2 large loopers per day.

Podisus are shipped in bottles with vermiculite and a limited food source. The insects become active at room temperature and are highly cannibalistic, therefore it is recommended that they be kept cool and out of direct sunlight until release. Large individual bugs can be placed by hand, small larvae can be transferred on pieces of shredded paper or by carefully placing using a fine paintbrush.

The recommended release rate is 1 per lightly infested plant, 5-10 per heavily infested plant. It is recommended that the bugs be released evenly throughout the crop. to reduce cannibalism and to increase predation efficiency.

Organism:     Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). A predatory stinkbug. Common Name: Spined soldier bug,

Content:        Each tray contains 50+ nymphs and adults packed in shredded paper.

Origin:           North America

Target Hosts: Many Lepidoptera and Coleoptera pest insects, including cabbage loopers, Colorado potato beetle, tobacco hornworm, fall webworm, beet armyworm, Eastern tent caterpillar, Mexican bean beetle. These bugs will also attack Foxglove aphid and Lygus bugs.

Life stage      Third, fourth and fifth instar nymphs and adults, packed in shredded paper,

Longevity      Development and longevity are dependent on both temperature and prey availability. Development from egg to adult is 76 days at 15ºC, 29 days at 23ºC and 17 days at 30ºC. Average adult life span is 50 to 80 days.

Dispersal:      Adult Podisus are highly mobile. They will spread rapidly throughout the crop by walking and flying. Nymphs can quickly walk from plant to plant.

Pesticides:    The following pesticides are extremely harmful to Podisus: Admire (imidacloprid), DDVP (dichlorvos), Lannate (cypermethrin) and Thiodan (endosulfan), Many other pesticides have not been tested for their effect on Podisus. A complete list of the effects of tested pesticides is available on request.

Storage:        Podisus in vermiculite-filled bottles can be successfully stored at 5ºC for up to 10 days However, we recommend applying these insects, like any live organism, within 24 hours of receipt.

Program Guidelines Frequency of application depends on pest density. General application is 1 per lightly affected plant and 5-10 per heavily affected plant. It is recommended that the bugs be released evenly throughout the crop to reduce cannibalism and to increase predator efficiency

Handling and Release Guidelines

·       Keep cold and out of sun until release.

·       If storing for more than one day, store at 5ºC

·       Cold store for no longer than 10 days

·       Distribute on host plant by gently shaking bottle to distribute nymphs then open bottle and sprinkling mixture of nymphs and vermiculite evenly throughout the crop.

Packaging Date:      See label on bottle.

Guarantee:    Not less than 100 per bottle, alive and in good condition

‘Podisus’ (Podisus maculiventris) Spined Soldier Bug

A member of the stink bug family, Podisus is a general predator on caterpillars and beetle larvae. It has a wide host range, including several important crop pests. Podisus has a long life cycle and will take several months to become established so other biological controls should be used along with it at recommended rates.

·       Adults are tan, 8.5-13 mm (5/8-1 inch) long, shield-shaped bugs with prominent spurs on the "shoulders”. They have distinct dark line on the membranous tip of each forewing, which forms one dark streak when the wing tips overlap.

·       Young nymphs are wingless and round, red and black; older nymphs are marked with red, black, yellow-orange, and cream bands and patches. Both adults and nymphs have long, sharp beaks, which fold back under their bodies when they are not feeding. They pierce their prey, inject a toxin and then suck the body contents.

·       A complete life cycle takes 29 days at moderate temperatures. Eggs are whitish or gold, barrel-shaped and laid in clusters of 20-30 on leaves and twigs. Females lay several hundred eggs over a life span of 2-3 months. Sex ratio in the population is about 1:1. Individual Podisus adults have been reported to eat over 100 late instar fall armyworm larvae.

·       To monitor, inspect leaves for dead caterpillars, which may appear to be pierced or with the body contents sucked out.

·       Recommended release rates to control caterpillars:

General rate: 0.5 bug/m2 (10 ft2) over total area

Low rate: 1 bug/m2 in “hot spots”, twice, two weeks apart

High rate: 5 bugs/m2 in “hot spots”, twice, two weeks apart.

·       When caterpillar populations are mixed ages, the suggested release pattern is evenly throughout the greenhouse. Early in the season, caterpillars generations may not overlap, therefore release Podisus only in “hot spots”.